A 46-year-old Ocala woman was arrested after an elderly man accused her of stealing one of his credit cards and using it to make over $1,000 in fraudulent purchases.
On November 25, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a residence on SW 56th Avenue Road in Ocala in reference to financial fraud. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the male victim who advised that his bank had notified him that one of his credit cards had been fraudulently used the previous day, according to the arrest report.
The victim stated that he had not used the credit card in question in months, and he recently noticed that the card was missing from his wallet. He told the deputy that a housemaid, later identified as Jennifer Louise Middleton, had started working at his home shortly before the credit card went missing, according to the report.
The victim’s daughter told law enforcement that a total of six fraudulent charges had been placed on the victim’s credit card.
On December 7, the deputy learned that Middleton was employed by Ashford Home Care, and she had been referred to the victim by a local medical facility. The deputy noted that this put the victim and Middleton in a “relationship of trust.”
Less than a week later, on December 12, the deputy visited several stores where the victim’s credit card had been used to make the fraudulent purchases. According to the report, the following transactions were conducted on November 24 using the victim’s credit card:
- $90.19 at a Ross Dress for Less store in Lady Lake.
- $176.36 at a Skechers Outlet in Lady Lake.
- $188.77 at a Bealls Outlet in Lady Lake.
- $38.39 at a Sonoco gas station in Marion County.
- $195.65 at Victoria’s Secret. This transaction was made online.
- $355.78 at Dillard’s. This transaction was made online.
The deputy noted in the report that Middleton was observed on video surveillance footage completing the fraudulent transaction at Ross Dress for Less at around 4:20 p.m. on November 24. Additionally, video surveillance footage from Bealls showed Middleton using the victim’s credit card to make the fraudulent purchase at around 4:50 p.m. on the same day.
The total amount taken from the victim was $1,045.14, according to the report.
On December 15, the deputy made contact with Middleton. After being read her Miranda rights, Middleton admitted to removing the credit card from the victim’s wallet without his permission. She further admitted to conducting all of the fraudulent transactions, and she added that she had thrown the stolen credit card into the trash.
Middleton was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and she was released the following day after posting an $8,000 bond. She is being charged with exploitation of the elderly (less than $10,000), fraudulent use of a credit card (more than two times or over $100), and three counts of misusing personal identification without consent (victim over 60 years of age).
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, according to jail records.